From its foundation in 1768 the Royal Academy of Arts has provided a voice for art and artists. We are an independent charity led by eminent artists and architects—the Royal Academicians—and we pursue our mission through exhibitions, education and debate.

Ugo da Carpi, after Parmigianino,Diogenes,c. 1527.

Chiaroscuro woodcut printed from four blocks, the tone blocks in green and blue. 47.8 x 34.3 cm. Albertina, Vienna. Photo Albertina, Vienna. Organised by the Royal Academy of Arts, London and the Albertina, Vienna..

Renaissance Impressions

Chiaroscuro woodcuts from the Collections of Georg Baselitz and the Albertina, Vienna

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★★★★

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Renaissance Impressions

Discover the lost art of Chiaroscuro woodcuts - pioneering 16th-century prints based on the exquisite designs of the Renaissance masters.

Discover the beautiful art of Chiaroscuro woodcuts as we present works from two of the finest collections in the world. Conceived as independent works or based on the designs of the greatest Renaissance artists such as Parmigianino, Raphael and Titian, you will see how this pioneering 16th-century printing technique breathed new life into well-known biblical scenes and legends; from Perseus slaying the Medusa to Aeneas Fleeing Troy, and the Miraculous Draught of Fishes.

We have brought together 150 of the rarest and most exquisite examples of this forgotten art form. With a focus on the craftsmanship of its proponents in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, you will see how the chiaroscuro method was used to create the first colour prints that make dramatic use of light and dark.

Created by established artists for a wider public, they were collected and appreciated both as mementos of famous works in other media and in their own right for their sheer technical brilliance and visual power.

15 March — 8 June

Saturday – Thursday 10am – 6pm
Friday 10am – 10pm

Please note: We will be closed on 4 June from 1pm and all day on 23 June.

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Gallery

Hans Burgkmair the Elder,St George and the Dragon,c. 1508-10.

Chiaroscuro woodcut printed from two blocks, the tone block in beige. 31.9 x 22.5 cm. Collection Georg Baselitz. Photo Albertina, Vienna. Organised by the Royal Academy of Arts, London and the Albertina, Vienna.

Hendrick Goltzius,Hercules Killing Cacus,1588.

Chiaroscuro woodcut printed from three blocks, the tone blocks in yellow and green. 41.1 x 33.3 cm. Collection Georg Baselitz. Photo Albertina, Vienna. Organised by the Royal Academy of Arts, London and the Albertina, Vienna.

Ugo da Carpi, after Raphael,Aeneas and Anchises,1518.

Chiaroscuro woodcut printed from four tone blocks, in beige and grey. 51 x 37.4 cm. Collection Georg Baselitz. Photo Albertina, Vienna. Organised by the Royal Academy of Arts, London and the Albertina, Vienna.

Ugo da Carpi, after Raphael,Archimedes (?),c. 1518-20.

Chiaroscuro woodcut printed from five blocks, the tone blocks in beige, pale brown, brown and blackish brown. 44.5 x 34.7 cm. Albertina, Vienna. Photo Albertina, Vienna. Organised by the Royal Academy of Arts, London and the Albertina, Vienna.

Giovanni Gallo, after Marco Pino,Perseus with the Head of Medusa,1570s.

Chiaroscuro woodcut printed from four blocks, the tone blocks in orange and reddish brown. 35.1 x 22.8 cm. Albertina, Vienna. Photo Albertina, Vienna. Organised by the Royal Academy of Arts, London and the Albertina, Vienna.

Hans Burgkmair the Elder,Hans Paumgartner,1512.

Chiaroscuro woodcut printed from three blocks, the tone blocks in violet. 29.1 x 24.1 cm. Albertina, Vienna. Photo Albertina, Vienna. Organised by the Royal Academy of Arts, London and the Albertina, Vienna.

This is the sort of exhibition at which the Royal Academy excels – taking a topic of specialist, art-historical interest and making it exciting and accessible.

Time Out

Exhibition in focus

What is a chiaroscuro woodcut?

Chiaroscuro – literally ‘light-dark’ – describes the effects of contrasting light and shadow in a work of art. You might have heard the term used to describe Renaissance drawing or painting, from masters like Leonardo or Caravaggio.

The lesser-known chiaroscuro woodcut was invented in the early sixteenth century when printmakers began use woodblocks and ink to imitate the painterly effects of light and shadow. The method enabled printmakers to create subtle gradations of tone, used to suggest three-dimensional volume and depth.

Hendrick Goltzius,Landscape with Trees and a Shepherd Couple,c. 1593-98.

Chiaroscuro woodcut printed from three blocks, the tone blocks in pale green and green. 11.7 x 15.3 cm. Collection Georg Baselitz. Photo Albertina, Vienna. Organised by the Royal Academy of Arts, London and the Albertina, Vienna.

Video

Making a contemporary chiaroscuro woodcut with Stephen Chambers RA

What visitors are saying

Tim

Tim: It was great to see such a range of work from the very beginnings of the technique through to the late German flowering. A mightily impressive exhibition, I thought. It was recommended to me by a friend and I would have no hesitation in recommending it to my friends too.

Ened

Ened: I thought it was amazing. Because you learn about the technique, you get more of a feel for the intentions of the artist. It’s an exhibition full of really striking and poignant images – even some of the religious works are much more moving than I usually find. The quality of the light and colour is beautiful throughout, and I’d highly recommend the audio guide – it really enhances the exhibition.

Caroline

Caroline: It’s so different to anything I’ve seen in a long time. It’s fascinating to read the descriptions and find out what was really going on at the time. It’s very well explained. What excited me most was the contrast between light and shade, as well as some of the details, which are truly astonishing. I’ll definitely come back.

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Catalogue

The beautifully illustrated exhibition catalogue explores the history of the chiaroscuro woodcut technique and how its use spread across different parts of Europe in the 16th century.

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